Contents
Ethos
The Way of the Wise is polytheist ethos that emphasizes devotional practice in lieu of religious affiliation. At its core, polytheism is a timeless and universal form of belief that has existed long before the rise of civilization and with continue long after we’re gone. It can be adapted to the concerns of individuals as well as those they share fellowship with. In whatever forms it takes, polytheism is most strongly defined by sincere devotion to gods and goddesses. Within polytheism, the divine can manifest as both one being or multiple gods and goddesses – in the myriad of historical and cultural manifestations they take throughout time, as well as contemporary or otherwise unknown beings.
Despite appearances, the Way of the Wise isn’t defined by a rejection of all authority. It’s defined by a focus on the only authority that matters: the divine itself. Because of that, all form of collective prophecy is rejected – including those found in holy books and bibles. Myths can obviously be shared by individuals and groups, but they are all symbolic and to be taken with a grain of salt. Personal mythology – granted directly by the divine – is far more important to polytheists. Any myth that compels others to have specific beliefs is antithetical to polytheism. The Way of the Wise at its core emphasizes the importance of individualism and opposes collectivism in all its form. Collective dogma is ultimately a hinderance to effective polytheism.
The Way of the Wise challenges the stagnation and tribalism in alternative spirituality that impedes the spiritual growth of polytheists. Instead of engaging in the same obsessions with organizations, terminology and identity that plague mainstream religions, the Way of the Wise brings polytheism back to its devotional and harmonious roots through simple, effective practice. The Way of the Wise demonstrates that organized religion and orthodoxy is not required to achieve spiritual wisdom or the cultivate sincere virtue. All of these unnecessary structures are ultimately a hinderance to our divine relationships and diminish the true potential of polytheism. With sincere devotion and trusting the gods, every polytheism can form practices that work best for them and those they align with.
Kenning
Kenning – often referred to as personal gnosis – is the direct knowledge one receives from the divine. Though reconstructionists often derisively refer to this as UPG – often to emphasize how unverified it is in their minds – kenning is the foundation of genuine, intuitive spiritual practice in the Way of the Wise. With kenning, deities from any pantheons – no matter how few or how many – can be honored in whichever manner the gods and goddesses deem appropriate to you as an individual. One can engage in group ritual with like-minded people, but the foundation of kenning is always the personal relationship individual practitioners have with their deities. This inner knowing is present in esoteric religions like Gnosticism and Hermeticism – as well as the inward light of Quakerism or the light of reason within Deism, but the Way of the Wise gets to the root of that wisdom through the cultivation of this divine instinct. This focus on knowing – though rooted in ancient beliefs – is ultimately cultivated through the post-enlightenment philosophy of individualism that allows it to be explored freely. Trusting in the kenning that the gods and goddesses grant to us is something that can be more fully explored in the freer society that many of us are fortunate enough to live in.
Virtue
Virtue – also known as morality or ethics, are the ways we achieve spiritual harmony in the world that comport with our unique experiences and honor the people we care about. These virtues – much like the gods and goddesses one worships, are expressions of the diversity of experiences and values of life. Personal virtue ethics – not as moral absolutes, are ethical abstractions that are expressed differently in each situation and are determined by the individual above all else. An important exercise of virtue, therefore, is to determine which virtues are most valuable to you. You should also be open to changing those virtues as you grow and change as a person. The good we do in the world – when guided by the gods – is yet another expression of the spiritual devotion that motivates us to maintain altars and leave offerings upon it. Strong relationships with the gods and goddesses should encourage every person to do good in the world. Virtue or goodness can be as public as volunteering or as personal as friends and family.
Theology
The divine is best understood as a sacred paradox. It can manifest as both one deity and as a divine multitude of deities – both known and unknown. The divine can manifest in a variety of ways – including through historical and personal syncretism or in forms derived from direct gnosis or kenning. This can also include deities that are lost to history or those that have yet to reveal themselves. Lesser divinities like land spirits and house spirits exist as well. Ancestors are also worthy of veneration. The most important focus of spirituality is cultivating strong relationships with the gods and spirits. Polytheism is meant to give a strong devotional foundation to spiritual practice – something that is severely lacking in the alternative spirituality community. As a polytheist, you are free to engage in devotional prayers or rituals with whichever deities most strongly make their presences known to you – whether they are historical, fantastical or derived from direct personal experience. The devotion one has for the sacred gods and goddesses are manifest not only in prayers but also altar spaces and offerings one leaves upon them.
Praxis
In polytheism, praxis is contained within the practice of prayer. Effective prayer contains all spiritual aspects within it. In spiritual theism, you are encouraged to pray spontaneously and without the rigid structures of formal ritual. You can call upon deities collectively or individually, honor their divine manifestations, thank them for what they have provided you and petition them for aid in your personal endeavors. Offerings of any kind can be given, but it is best to remember that the act of maintaining a ritual space itself is the true offering. Anything that you do in the service of your devotion to the divine – including the life you live – is the true offering. You can perform any type of divination you prefer, but divination in spiritual theism thrives the best with pure intuition, so scrying divination – with or without a speculum – is the most recommended.
One should not be bound to rigid distinctions between exoteric and esoteric practice. There is no difference between prayer, magic or mystical practice. Polytheism should always emphasize direct communion with the gods through inner knowing or kenning. One should avoid dogma and should instead focus on devotional relationships. The direct rituals one can engage in are primarily focused on theistic, devotional mysticism. One of the most essential beliefs in the Way of the Wise is that of the nature of offerings or sacrifice. The purest offering one can give is that of praise and adoration – otherwise known as spiritual intent, will or desire. Will is what connects all spiritual practices – transcending the distinction between exoteric and esoteric practice. Votive offerings are considered a direct extension of will. Food offerings and libations are considered unnecessary, but ritual meals can be a valuable tool for their spiritually restorative properties – both to individuals and groups.
Effective polytheism should be holistic in orientation. Effective practice honors real and living gods and goddesses – including those that are hidden or nascent – whether or not you worship one deity or many. Despite what some purists may say, there is no meaningful distinction between the devotional and the mystical. Truly meaningful ritual is arcane and embodies the most powerful magic. Ritual respects the awesome power of all divinities that emerge from the divine. How the divine emerges in the rituals of a particular practitioner is dependent on their unique experiences and shouldn’t be confused with either the orthodoxy of mainstream religion, the ceremonialism of occultism, or the historical rigidity of certain pagan traditions. Effective polytheism should freely incorporate not only what works in the short term, but encourage deeper connections with the divine in the long term.
Divination is not a means to an end. Vision work is a fundamental part of spiritual practice. Seers should be encouraged to regularly cultivate visions and all other spiritual senses as a part of ritual and daily life – paying close attention to dreams, omens and any other sources of spiritual wisdom wherever they go. The sensory impressions that are received during ritual in particular should be welcomed as a part of mundane life – just as much as in spiritual, esoteric workings. This is also another reason why daily ritual is such an important part of dedicated spirituality. Always bear this in mind when developing your practice, and make sure to never take your own unique spiritual skills for granted.
Each person develops their own unique praxis and that is something worthy of both respect and celebration. In particular, effective polytheistic practice should always include seership or divination. Divination is not simply a means to an end. Divination is considered an art of foresight – not just because it can help you to divine the future, but because it can help you to know where the next stage of spiritual development is meant to be. This is both for you as a seer as well as those people the gods and goddesses direct you towards helping as you develop your own practice. This is why you should not only find divinatory techniques that work for you, but also should strengthen your connections to hallowed divinities in everything you do.
Prayer
O gods and goddesses; In whatever manner you prefer, may you be hallowed. I am honored by your presence. I witness your awesome power. I am grateful for all of your sacred blessings. Through my ardent devotion, may you grant me your divine favor and bestow grace upon my kith and kin. May you continue to guide, influence and protect me – as well as the people, places and things I most care about. I beseech you to make manifest the unspoken desires of my heart. I beseech you to reveal the sacred, hidden knowledge you deem me worthy to receive. If it is your will, let it be so.